Yesteryear - July 3, 2013

25 YEARS AGO -- July 4-8, 1988

Sgt. Carl Truesdale with the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Department received the “Adviser of the Year” Award from the S.C. Association of Law Enforcement Explorers (SCALE) in a June 19 ceremony held at Bob Jones University in Greenville.

Truesdale was awarded for his work as adviser to the department’s law enforcement cadet program, which operates under the Explorer division of the Boy Scouts of America, a career interest program.

“It was really a surprise to me,” said Truesdale, who received a standing ovation as well as the good wishes from program participants across the state, many of whom came up to Truesdale after the award ceremony…

Acclaimed artist from Columbia exhibits works at Fine Arts Center

Works by versatile Columbia artist Anna Kay Singley are on exhibit in the Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County’s Bassett Gallery during July.

Ms. Singley is a professional painter, teacher, lecturer, writer and illustrator…

She paints in a realistic style, but her favorite medium is using various types of pigments in an abstract or non-representational way…

…Two critics of the art world have described her as one of the best and most versatile painters in South Carolina, with emphasis on her designs and layerist techniques…

County hires new executive

Kershaw County officials announced Thursday that lifelong resident Walter Smith has been hired as the new county administrator.

The 50-year-old Smith agreed to accept the position while on vacation in North Carolina via a phone conversation with council Chairman Austin Sheheen Jr. He will begin his new position July 22.

…Sheheen said that Smith was one of six the council interviewed for the position out of 33 applications that were received. “He was picked in open session and was the unanimous choice by the council.” …

30 Years of good taste

Blackmons say the Little Midget’s quality has been the difference since 1958 opening

There is dissension in the ranks of the Blackmon’s Little Midget hierarchy. Allen Blackmon, who bought his parent’s share of the business five years ago and is the current owner/operator, is talking about giving away hot dogs to celebrate the restaurant’s 30-year anniversary.

But his father, Ira, who along with Allen’s mother, Evelyn, turned a small hot dog stand into Blackmon’s Little Midget 30 years ago, joins the conversation. Although retired, he still likes to keep a hand in the business, and from the end of one of the Little Midget’s trademark picnic tables, he is voicing his disapproval of the giveaway scheme.

“We’re not having any hot dog giveaway,” he says, looking mischievous.

Allen glances down the table at his father, smiles and says maybe they’ll have a buy-one-get-one-free offer for the anniversary…

The original Little Midget was only 10 feet wide and 15 feet long. They served only hot dogs and drinks, but after a year, they put in another grill and added hamburgers to the menu.

There were no set hours in the early days. “You stayed until you sold out,” Ira says…

One of the busiest days in the Little Midget’s history was when the Army had maneuvers between Cassatt and Bethune. Business had finally slacked off one typical afternoon when in rolled wave after wave of infantrymen. By the end of the day, they had sold out of everything. Not even a pack of crackers remained in the restaurant.

“We had two pieces of white bread left,” says Ira. “One of the soldiers said, ‘Put some mayonnaise between them and give me that.’”…